Benzoylation of toluene with benzoyl chloride on Al‐promoted sulfated solid superacids

Abstract

The catalytic performance of Al‐promoted sulfated zirconia and sulfated titania for benzoylation of toluene with benzoyl chloride has been investigated. The incorporation of Al enhances the catalytic activity of the sulfated oxide catalysts prominently owing to an increase in superacidity of the catalysts. Al‐promoted sulfated zirconia catalysts are more active than the analogous sulfated titania catalysts because of their higher superacidity. In particular, SO42-–/3%Al2O3–ZrO2 is a good clean catalyst for the benzoylation reaction, which gives 100% yield of methylbenzophenones after on stream for 12 h at 110 °C.